Block-signal system



No. 748,824. -.PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. WEATHERBY, JR. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24, 1902.

SETS-SHEET 1.

H0 IODEL.

No. 748,824. 7 PATENTED JAN. 5,1904;

J. WEATHERBY, In.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24 1992.

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PATENTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. WEATHERBY, JR. BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 24, 1902.

I SHBETSSHEET 3.

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Ill-Ill III wbevikor N6. 748,824. PAT-BNTED JAN. 5, 1904.

J. WEATHER BY, JR.

BLOCK SIGNAL SYSTEM. APPLICATION BLED JULY 24, 1902.-

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UNITED STATES Patented January 5, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

BLOCK-SIGNAL SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 748,824, dated January 5, 1904.

Application filed July 24:, 1902. Serial No. 116,811. (ll'o model-) This invention relates to block-signal systerns for single or double track railways; and it pertains particularly to that class of apparatus in which a signal or indicator is operated by a moving car to show whether or not the block is clear.

The objects of the invention are, first, to provide means for operating a signal and maintaining the signal at the dangerpointers long as any one of a number of cars are on' the block; second, to reverse the signal to in-,

dicate a clear blockj only when the last of a numberof cars on a block passes off the block; third, to provide an apparatus which-insures absolute safety even in the, event of the,si-

multaneousoperationof the signal setting and releasing devices by cars at opposite ends 5 of a block; fourth, to provide signal mechanism operable in connection with either hand or automatic switches, and, finally,'to gen-v erally simplify and improve Ihe construction and increase the practical efficiency of signal? systems of this character.

and combination of parts,fwhich'wil1 be h inat'ter fully set forth. p

In the accompanyinn drawings, Figurei is agdiagrammatic View showing several blocks of a signal'system embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic view show-- ing thesignal devices at one of the signali stations; ,Fig. 3,is a top pla'nview of the eleotromagnets and circuit-closing devices at a elation, showing also the circuit closers and;

the switch. Fig.- 7 is'a longitudinal section With these; objects in View the, invention consistsgin certain features of construction of. the same; Fig. 8 is a cross-section of the switch on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the letter A represents the trolley feed-wire; B, the track; 0, the trolley-wire or conductor provided with turnouts c c 0 '&c., located at the junction of the blocks'D D D D ,-&c., and E E, &c., are signal-boxes also located atsaid junctions and containing the electromechanical devices for operating :the signals.

In the present instance Ihave shown the application of the signal system solely to a single-track railway provided with turnouts; but it will of course be understood that I do ;not limit the invention thereto, as Ihesame signal mechanism with slight changes in the iconstructi'on or arrangement of the parts may be employed for a double-track railway and ;for general use where, an electromechanical lsignal is required.

Es'ignals, each-set consisting of" a pair of electro magnets, a cijreu it-closer cooperating there- ;with, and a signal set and retracted by energizing and denergizing the electromagnets;

provided;(see Fig. 5) with the armatures ff,

ieach of which is pivotally mounted upon a ishaftf supported by a bracket f and normally held in an inclined position by the igravitative action of two arms f and a spring if, coiled about the Shaft) and having one end secured to the br acletf and the other lendjto the armature. f magnets isa circuit-closer-com prisinga wheel ior druin G, provided with two ratchet-toothed ,flangesg and g, which are respectively on,- =gaged by pivoted pawls h and h upon the armsf ofthe armatures when the ele'ctro- @ruaguetsare energiz,ed,,each of said pawls being limited in its downward movement by a stoppin h 'and each arm f4 having apin 7L Eto engage a ratchet-tooth to lock the drum Eagainst movement beyond the extentof one itooth. The drum is rigidlymounted upon a Ishaft g 1urningjin bearing-brackets g and ;'has a smooth cylindrical contact-surface g ihetween thetlanges, which is broken at one,

F and E are-the electromagnets of one set,

Between the electtoi-j Arranged within each signal-IboxE are two {sets of, devices for setting and retracting the drum contact brushes g supported by a bracket g electrically connected with a binding-post 9 The other set of electromagnets 1-1 H is similarly constructed and cooperates with a like drum G, and the brushes of this drum G are also connected with the bindingpost 9 through a conductor 9 From this post g or the wire g leads a wire g leading to the track-rails B and forming a common ground connection for both sets of brushes.

A wire 1' connects the two electromagncts F H, and a wire 91 connects the two electromagnets F H, and these wires 2' i in turn connect with a bridge-wire 11 and a wire 1?, connecting with the ground-wire 9 and containing a series of resistance-lam ps 11 From bindingposts j is, in electrical connection with the two drums G G, lead wires j k, which connect with electromagnets F H from which lead conductors j j, which are in circuit with a feed-wire 7' leading from the trolley feed-wire A and containing a series of signal-lamps j, which light up the interior of the signal-box E. The two electromagnets F H are provided with armatures Z Z, carrying semaphore-arms M M, provided with red target-disks m m, which are thrown upward by the drawing down of the armatures when the magnets are energized and exposed through clear-glass openings or bulls-eyes 0 o in the sides of the box E and facing the adjacent blocks of the line. Supported in the box in rear of each openingo 0 is a pane or panel 19 p of white or frosted glass, which transmits a pure white light through the opening when the semaphores are down. The red target-disks m m are of smaller diameter than the openings 0 0 and are adapted to be moved up by the swing of the armatures ZZ between said openings and the white panes or panels 19 I), so that the danger-light will show with a red body or center surrounded bya white ring or halo, the white background formed by the white pane or panel making the red light show with great distinctness for a considerable distance from the box or station.

The magnets F F are electrically connected with binding-posts q r, to which are connected two conducting-wires Q R, while the'magnets H H are electrically connected with bindingposts q r, to which are connected two conducting-wires Q B. As shown in Fig. 1, these wires cooperate with switches S S, arranged, respectively, in the trolley-wire and turnout at each station. Referring to any particular station, it will be seen that the wires Q and R leadfrom the magnets F F to the switches S"at"s a i d station and another station to the left, while the wires Q and Rconnect the electromagne'ts H H with the switches S of adjacent stations. Extending from the wire Q is a branch wire Q which leads to the switch S, and extending from the wire Q is a Wire R which leads to the switch S.

Each switch S or S comprises a supporting-bracket T, provided with binding-postsz, at its ends for connection with the trolleywire and atits sides with eyes If for connection with suitable stay or guy wires. This bracket has an upwardly-projecting flange 25 about which fits a cap or cover i forming therewith a chamber 2? and secured thereto by screws t Pivoted to this cover is a lever 75 whose lower end projects to the exterior through and swings within a slot t formed in the bracket. On opposite sides of the lever are contactrods u u, secured by heads 11, to move in unison with guide-rods v 'v, and these rods slide in suitable openings in guide-brackets 0J2, fixed to the cover i When the lever swings in one direction, it slides the rods 11. and o outwardly, and when it swings in the opposite direction it slides the rodsu' and 0 outwardly. Each rod l) v carries a surrounding coiled spring U ,'Wl1l(3h returns said rod with the cooperating contact-rod and the lever to their normal positions. The inward movement of the rods is limited by stop-pins 15 which abut against the brackets v The rod 11. is adapted to engage two contacts to w, carried by binding-posts W W, to which the wires Qand R in the case of the switch S and wires Q and R in case of the switch S are connected, while the rod 11. is adapted to contact with a contact-piece 00 carried by a binding-post cc, to which the wire R in case of the switch S or wire Q in case of the switch S is attached. It will he noted that upon removing the cover or cap t all the elements of the switch may be detached therewith. The construction of the two switches S and S is the same, the only difference being in the arrangement of the wires, as above explained.

The operation is as follows: Assuming that all the cars running along the track from right to left in Fig. 1 have the right of travel without turnout, while those traveling from left to right are compelled to run upon the sidings or turnouts, and also that a car is traveling in the former direction along the block D it will be seen that when said car reaches the station between the two blocks D D the trolley-wheel of the car on striking the lever-arm t of switch S will throw the contact-rod it into engagement with the two contacts w w, thereby closing the switch and connecting the trolley-wire with the wires Q and R, whereupon an electric currentwill be caused to pass along these. two wires to the front signal mechanisms M at the stations E and E to release the signal at the former station and project that at the latter station. 'The current passing along wire Q will energize the releasingmagnet H at E, thereby Idrawing down the armaturefof said magnet and causing the pawl h thereof to engage the ratchet-wheel g of the drum G to rotate said drum toward the magnet-primal H the distance of one tooth. This action moves the insulation 9 into engagement with the brushes g and breaks the circuit, whereupon the auxiliary setting-magnet H at E, which was previously energized to set the front signal an, is deenergized, and the semaphore M drops down and retracts said signal, indicating that block D is clear. At the same time the transmission of a current over the wire R will set the front signal at station E in the following manner: The current will pass from R tothe setting-magnet H at said station E and draw down the armature f, thereby causing pawl h to engage ratchetflange g and turn drum G the distance of one tooth toward releasing-magnet H, there by moving the insulation g out of contact with the brushes 9 and closing the circuit, and the current thence passes to the magnet H drawing down armature Z and setting the signal m, indicating that block D is closed. When the car reaches station E, a current is in the same manner transmitted through the wires Q and R, leading to and from said station, to retract the signal previously set at E, and set the signal at a station to the left of E, indicating that block D is closedi. e., occupied bya car. ing from left to right, and, say, from block D to block D passes out to the turnout c, the lever-arm t of switch S is moved in the reverse direction and engages contacts to w, connected with the wires Q and R, and a current is caused to'pass through the releasingmagnet F to release and retract the signal m at station E, and at the same time a current is supplied to the setting-magnet F at station E 10 set signal m, indicating that block D is closed. It will thus be seen that each station is provided with two sets of magnets, circuit-closers, and signals, one set operating to set and retract the signals for cars going in one direction and the other set acting to set and retract the signals for cars going in the opposite direction, and it will be understood that by simply separating these sets of devices and applying them to difiereut signalboxes at the stations the apparatus will be made available for use in connection with double-track lines.- One of the two sets of switches S S is of course in this case'ap-.

plied to the trolley-wire above one track and the other set to the trolleywire above the other track.

The toothed flanges of the drums G G may embody any number of teeth-sixteen appearingin the present instan ce-of which one is made blank by the insulation-strip g Thus the pawl operated by the setting-magnet F or H may turn the drum G or G- fifteen times the space of one tooth, allowing a corresponding number of cars to enter a block without releasing the signal controlling said block untilQthe last car has When a car travel- I dicate the block to be open. The number of teeth on the ratchet-wheels may be varied to permit any desirednumber of cars to enter a block within reasonable limits. A springstrip y, acting in the nature of a pawl, cooperates with the ratchet-teeth g to hold the drum in set position against casual movement. Normally, however, this strip y permits of the free movement of the drum under the action of the pawls. When the drum turns to the limit of its movement in either direction, a stop-pin y, carried thereby, en-

gages the bracket and prevents further movement of the drum in that direction. Should at any time two cars traveling in the same direction simultaneously enter and leave a block, the signals will not be affected in the way of indicating that a closed block isopen,

as the car leaving the block will set the sig-' nal in the block ahead of it, and the car entering the block will release the signal at the station where it enters, while the signal at the station intermediate the two cars and controlling the block on which the rear or second car is running will not be operated, as the currents transmitted to said intermediate station by the closing of the switches will counteract each other and lock the controlling mechanism, thus holding the signal set at danger at the station ahead of the second car. My construction also possesses the desirable feature of permitting a car traveling in either direction to turn back and still set the signals properly. If, for instance, a car running on block D toward station E is to be reversed to run in the opposite direction, then by running the car on the turnout c the switch S will be closed by engagement of switch-lever with contact x to connect the wires R Q with the trolley-wire, and a current will pass through them and release the signal m at station E. Upon the trolley then being reversed and the car run back the switch S will be operated by engagement of switch-arm t with contactsw to to close the circuit through the wires Q and R, and the signal or at station E will be unaffected, as it is at released position, and backward movement of the drum G will be prevented by stop y; but the magnet F at station E will be energized to set the signal m at said station, indicating to cars running in the opposite direction that block D is closed. When the car is running from left to right, the trolley is reversed at a station ;'but instead of running the car on a turnout it is run straight along the track to operate switch S. Thus ifacaris on block Dandis to be run back on said block the car is run past the turnout c and past switch S and sends a current through Q and Q to release the signal m at station E. Then upon a reversal of the trolley and movement of the car back along block D the switch S will connect the wires Q R with the trolley-wire, thus setting the signal m at station E.

It will be seen that the signal-lamps 9' are i switched in connection with the trolley-wire only when a signal is set, thus insuring economy in the use of the apparatus and that the circuit is completed in the operation of any of the magnets through the ground-wire g It is of course obvious that hand-switches may be used in place of the automatic switches S S, if desired.

From the" foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the construction and mode of operation of the invention will be readily understood, and it will be seen that a simple and effective signaling system is provided.

Changes in the form, proportion, arrangement, and construction of the parts may be made within thescopeoftheinventionwithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof. For instance, I may employ a semaphore-arm mounted outside the signal-box and having a red glass brought into coincidence with the opening 0 0' when the arm is tilted instead of the semaphore herein shown, and I may also employ an aural signal, such as a bell, in series with the semaphore-magnet and sounded when the semaphore is operated. The use of the aural signal is deemed advantageous under certain conditions, as when the signals are arranged at a railway-crossing, bridge, or other point of danger to give warning of the approach of a car. In some cases, also, the aural signal maybe employed in place of the visual signal.

This signal system maybe used to indicate the approach of a car at curves or street-corners and for other similar purposes.

For convenience of designation in the claims I will term the signal mechanisms M the front or outbound signaling mechanisms and the signaling mechanisms M the rear or inbound signaling mechanisms.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a signaling system of the character described, signal-stations, signals at each of said stations controlling the movement of cars in both directions along the line, electromechanical devices at the stations for setting and releasing each signal, said devices including a circuit-closer and a setting and releasing magnet, in and out bound switches, two conductingwires having contacts engaged by one of said switches and leading, respectively, to the releasing-magnet of the front signal of the adjacent station and the setting-magnet of the front signal of the station next in advance along the line, two conductors having contacts engaged by the other switch and leading, respectively, to the releasing-magnet of the rear signal of the adjacent station and setting-magnet of the rear signal of the station next in advance in the opposite direction along the line, said contacts being engaged by the movement of the switches by cars running in opposite directions, and branch wires having contacts engaged by the switches on a reverse movement thereof, one of said wires adapted to connect the first-named switch with the conductor leading to the releasing-magnet of the rear signal of the adjacent station and the other,

to connect the other switch with the conductor leading to the releasing-magnet of the front signal of the adjacent station, substantially as described.

2. In a signaling system of the character described, signal-stations, a conductor, in and out bound signals at each signal-station, setting mechanism at each station for each signal including a circuit-closer and setting and releasing magnets,in and out bound switches, circuit connections whereby one movement of one of said switches will connect the conductor with the releasing and setting magnets of the outbound signals of the adjacent station and next station in advance for an outbound car along the line, connections whereby a reverse movement of said switch will connect the conductor with the releasing-magnet of the inbound signal at the adjacent station, connections whereby one movement of the other switch will respectively connect the conductor with the releasing and setting magnets of the inbound signals at the adjacent station and next station in advance for an outbound car along the line and connections whereby a reverse movement of the latter-named rear inbound switch will connect the conductor with the releasingmagnet of the outbound signal of the adjacent station.

3. In a signalingsystem of the character described,signal-stations,in and out bound signals at each signal-station, in and out bound switches at each station, circuit connections whereby one movement of the outbound switch will throw out of operation the outbound signal of the adjacent station and throw into operation the outbound signal at the next station in advance for an outbound car along the line, connections whereby a reverse movement of said switch will throw out of operation the inbound signal at the adjacent station, connections whereby one movement of the inbound switch will respectively throw out of operation the inbound signal at the adjacent station and operate the inbound signal at the next station in advance for an inbound car along the line and connections whereby a reverse movement of said inbound switch will throw out of operation the outbound signal at the adjacent station, substantially as described.

4. In an electric signaling system,signals at the opposite ends of a block, a set of signal setting and releasing mechanism at each end of the block, said mechanism being operable to permit a plurality of cars traveling in the same direction to enter the block, to maintain the advance signal at the danger-point as long as any one of the number of cars are on the block, and to release the signal to indicate a clear block only when the last car has passed off the block, electric-circuit con- IIC nections between the two sets of setting and releasing mechanisms, and a circuit-closing switch for eachset of setting and closing mechanisms adapted when moved in one direction to complete a circuit through said connections to simultaneously release the signal at one end of the block andset the signal at the opposite end of the block, and branch connections controlled by a reverse movement of the switch to reverse the signals when a car traveling in either direction is turned back along the line, thereby setting the signal previously released and releasing the signal previously set, substantially as described.

5. In an electric signaling system of the character described, a series of stations provided with signals, magnets for operating the signals, a main electric conductor provided with a controlling-switch for each station, a signal setting and releasing device at each station comprising a circuit-closer and setting and releasing electromagnets adapted to operate said circuit-closer to energize and denergize the signal-operating magnets, said circuit-closer and setting and releasing magnets codperating to permit a plurality of cars traveling in the same direction to enter a block, to maintain the advance signal at the danger-point as long as any one of a number of cars are on the block, and to release the signal to indicate a clear block only when the last car has passed ofi the block, connections between the main conductor and the several stations for supplying a current for setting a signal at one station and releasing a signal at another station, said connections being so related to the several parts that the controllingswitch at either station when moved in one direction is adapted to simultaneously release the signal at said station and set the signal at the advance station, and means whereby when a car traveling in either direction is reversed to run in the opposite direction, the switch will be operated to retract the advance signal previously set and to set the previously-retracted advance signal in the opposite direction, substantially as described.

6. In a signaling system of the character dc scribed, a conductor provided with turnouts, a signal-station at each turnout, signals at each of said stations controlling the movement of cars in both directions along the line, electromechanical devices at the stations for setting and releasing each signal, said devices including a circuit-closer and a setting and releasing magnet, said magnets operating said circuit-closer in opposite directions to make and break the circuit, switches in the main conductor and turnouts, two conducting-wires having contacts engaged by the switch in the main circuit and leading respectively to the releasing-magnet of the front signal of the adjacent station and the settingmagnet of the front signal of the station next in advance along the line, two conductors having contacts engaged by the switch in the turnout and leading respectively to the releasing-magnet of the rear signal of the adjacent station and setting-magnet of the rear signal of the station next in advance in the opposite direction along the line, said contacts being engaged by the movement of the switches by cars running in opposite directions, and current-controlling connections coacting with said conductors and switches for reversing the signalwhen a car is turned back on either the main line ora turnout, substantially as described.

7. In a signaling system of the character described, a conductor provided with turnouts,

.tacts engaged by the switch in the turnout and leading respectively to the releasing-magnet of the rear signal of the adjacent station and setting-magnet of the rear signal of the station next in advance in the opposite direction along the'line, said contacts being engaged by the movement of the switches by cars running in opposite directions, and branch wires having contacts engaged by the switches on a reverse movement thereof, one of said wires adapted to connect the main switch with the conductor leading to the releasing-magnet of the rear signal of the adjacent station and the other to connect the turnout-switch with the conductor leading to the releasing-magnet of the front signal of the adjacent station, substantially as described.

8. In asignaling system of the character described, a main conductor provided with turnouts, a signal-station at each turnout, controlling-switches in the conductor and turnout, in and out bound signals at each signalstation, setting mechanism at each station for each signal including a circuit-closer and setting and releasing magnets, circuit connections whereby one movement of the main switch will connect the conductor with the releasing and setting magnets of the outbound signals of the adjacent station, and next station in advance for an outbound car along the line, connections whereby a reverse movement of said switch will connect the conductor with the releasing-magnet of the inbound signal at-the adjacent station, connections whereby one movement of the turnout-switch will respectively connect the conductor with the releasing and setting magnets of the inbound signals at the adjacent In testimony whereof I have hereunto set station and next'station in advance for an inmy hand in presence of two subscribing witbonnd car along the line, and connections nesses.

whereby a reverse movement of said turnout- JOSEPH WEATHERBY, JR. 5 switch will connect the conductor with the re- Witnesses:

leasing-magnet of the outbound signal of the J. C. WILLSON,

adjacent station, substantially as described. BENJ. G. COWL. 

